Good morning Ken. I'll bring a few old stoves, some for the CG the first night and a few to pack in. If HJ wants to see the 11 Explorer, he'll have to see it at the TH parking.
I have a EE 30F Enigma quilt and will get a ZPacks 10F bag the week before GGG. Depending on the forecast, will decide which to bring and if I can get over the Sierra. Not rich, just no bills/mortgage.
I'd like to see some shelters that go under 12 oz. with tent pole if anyone has that light of a system. Lightest I can come up with is around 10-11 oz. and not sure I'd be good to go in a good windy, rain storm. I may have my goal set too high, but I'll never get there if I don't set an expectation.
Duane

Planning on bringing my Ruta Locura Lone Peak and WiFi stove. I might not sleep in it, might bring my hammock for that (there are plenty of places to hang, right?). Also thought I might bring my UL movie projector setup for kicks – though I don't expect anyone to actually watch a full movie (campfire talk is what the GGG is all about), but I could set it up so folks could see the quality of picture, and other folks could carp and whine about how such things don't belong in the woods (won't bring if it's slated to rain the entire time). Will also bring my EE Enigma quilt system. I'll bring all three pieces, even if I don't need them all for the temps.

A projector would be awesome. Bring The Wizards of the PCT and I am sure that will go over good. One of the best of the best. Fun & Funny!!

@EJ,

You are welcome to throw on my pack, load it up with some water and food and whatnot and get a good heavy load it in, and take it for a walk. My Arc is the first-gen so it does not have the top cross bar, but I highly doubt that would be an issue for you. My Zero is made with the hybrid (in orange) so its heavier and tougher than a standard zero, but it is the x-small (1,000 cubic inches / 16.4 liters) and I have ~100 days of use on it so far.

Any of you guys bring the EE quilts happen to be bringing the new version with the new baffle system?? If so, please be sure to grab me and drag me over to your tent so I can see it!!

Those of you that are wood-burners, I have the Suluk46 TDW Stove and the Suluk46 LCT that I had not planned on bringing, but if anybody out there wants to see either/both of them, let me know and I can throw them into my pack.

Recently moved from Denver where I fly-fished all the time, but had only heard of tenkara in passing and wasn't into UL backpacking then. Now that I've move to CA (where traditional trout fly-fishing is not what it was in CO), and gotten into UL backpacking (which traditional fly-fishing is too heavy for), I would love to see the rod, reel, line, flies, etc that go along w/ this very interesting minimalist form of fly-fishing.

Also super interested in people's MYOG whatever. Stoves, clothes, tarps, cat cans, sandals, etc. I've always been a crafty/builder type person, find manufacturing very interesting and very quickly gravitated to MYOG when I discovered UL backpacking. I'll bring all the bits and pieces I've made so far, though none are too impressive I fear.

Which brings me to my last note, I'm very new to UL backpacking, BPL and the GGG (will be first time!). As I read thru the various comments about the weekend, and having read thru lots of the general forum, there is a very palpable sense of "you get what you give". Free-loaders and lurkers are frowned upon, people who don't "contribute to the discussion" are seen as not pulling their weight. As a newbie who is still learning at lightspeed, this gives me a not insignificant feeling of despair that I don't have anything to contribute BACK to other members, or to an event like GGG. Any ADVICE on what someone in my position could do to contribute? I live in the Bay Area and will likely be driving, so anyone need a ride or pickup from airport? I've always been a "behind the scenes helper" so will certainly volunteer for whatever setup/cleanup there is, etc? In discussions, I don't post much because I feel like everyone else has already said what I would, or I don't have any expertise to lend yet. Not sure if much more than time can remedy that.

No worries Ryan, it's been very easy to meet people at the last few GGG's. Everyone I've met has been very friendly. Just put on a name tag and start asking people about their gear and you'll have plenty to talk about.

Thanks for posting and I am sorry that you have a sense that "free-loaders and lurkers" are frowned upon.

I assure you, that is not the case at the GGG…and to a greater hope, I would like to think that it is not the attitude of many people on BPL.

I have been one of the biggest lurkers and free loaders for sure!

One of the great things that I have seen over the past 2 yrs at the GGG is a woman named Jane….she came out with traditional gear and had just recently gotten into or back into backpacking. (Jane is an older woman and my hero as I hope that I will be on the trail backpacking when I am her age).

Anyway, she came out, asked a bunch fo question and simply checked out the gear and talked to people.

Each year that she has come out, her setup has gotten lighter and lighter…and she is a joy talk to.

Point of it is this….none of us is born a lightweight, sub 10 lb backpacker.

We ALL have to start somewhere and I think that the GGG is simply about people who love the outdoors/backpacking and what to meet other people who HAPPEN to be Lightweight/UL backpackers.

Maybe, in the near future, you will be someone who will be on the forums or at a future GGG and "giving back" to the community by passing along your Lightweight backpacking advice to someone who is new to the craziness that is Ultralight backpackng.

So PLEASE don't feel intimidated by your perceived lack of UL knowledge or even backpacking experience.

This is just about having some FUN, meeting some good people, and checking out the UL gear that people have….which might give you some creative thoughts for where your UL evolution/journey is going to take you.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Edit: P.S. If the weather is good, I am going to bring my child to the GGG for show and tell. :)

Thanks, Tony, for your kind comments. Many people here and at previous GGGs have answered lots of questions, offered advice and shown me their gear and even how to use my own gear. Ryan, I still feel like I can't add to many discussions of gear because it's all been said by more experienced backpackers but I still continue to read regularly and learn, learn, learn. Yes, ask questions, at the GGG ask to see gear and how it's set up or how it works. Ask if someone can help you improve how your gear is used, etc.
One advantage I do have as I approach 72-if I can set it up, use it, have a successful trip with a piece of gear, clothing, etc. then others know that THEY can almost certainly do it as well or better. Last summer while hiking on the Rae Lakes Loop a couple of us LOLs got comments from people who couldn't believe we were using such light gear, using cuben tents, etc. It was a great opportunity to share with them about BPL, specific gear and answer the often asked, "Well, I shouldn't ask, but, how OLD are you?" It gives them encouragement to lighten their load so they can keep getting out on the trails into their 70's or older.
You'll find lots of friendly people at GGG. Last year I happened to set up my Hexamid Solo next to John Abela's latest tarp or tent. It must have pained him to see that I didn't have a perfect, taut set-up so he very diplomatically offered a couple of suggestions on how to improve it. Great! That's always helpful. Then I got to check out his latest gear.
So, ask, walk around all the tents/tarps, check out the packs, stoves and, most of all, talk with friendly people.
Tony, see you soon. Need to ask you and others about the many ways to use my new Sawyer Mini.
Tomorrow I meet with three older women and we'll calendar and do preliminary planning for our 3-4 backpack trips for 2014. My husband and I have a one week trip planned, too. Lucky me!!
Jane

Thanks you two! Beautiful answers from both Tony and Jane. I can't wait! Ryan. Bring a good attitude and you'll have a great time. We've got 80-100 showing up this time around. No two set ups the same.

Thanks to all for the encouragement :) Feeling much less apprehensive at this point and very excited to meet a lot of people and see tons of gear on display! As stated, I've been most interested in the MYOG, UltraLight/UltraCheap ideas, so will make sure to bring some things i've made…
-a couple stove/stand/caldera-cone setups
-a polycro, tape-reinforced tarp w/ mason cord lines
-ziploc bag "platypus"
-100's mini-ziplocs (1"x1"-ish)
-hiking poles modified from $2 thrift store cross-country ski poles